Are you ever stressed?
Silly question, right?
We can never remove all of the issues of our life that bring us stress. We have to somehow learn to navigate our lives through stress.
I have some easy suggestions. I have shared this strategy so many times. I hope you find it helpful.
Let me warn you, this isn’t some deep, researched system. These are simple. But, in my experience, they are powerful suggestions.
Here are four steps to a less stressed life:
Get a set of index cards. Write on each one what you are most concerned about in life right now. Only one concern per card, but use as many cards as necessary. Everything you’re concerned about—worried about, if that’s your word—goes on a card. There is something cleansing about writing out your concerns. It is a therapeutic exercise. (Insider information—you’ll find some of the things don’t merit a card once you have to write them.)
Place cards. After you’ve completed your cards, lay them face up on a table in front of you. This is a bare your soul moment. Now, share them with God. He knows them already—better than you—but do it anyway. It is freeing to give your recorded burdens to your Creator.
Pray. Pray something like this: “God, this is what I have before me that I can’t handle. I’m asking You, as my Father who loves me more than I can imagine, to give me direction, success, wisdom, patience and understanding in every area of my life. Lead me along the path you would have for me. I’m trusting completely in you. If this season is a success in my life, it will depend on You. I love You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Do the best you know how to do. And then leave the rest in God’s hands.
Please understand this is not a formula for success. I don’t believe those exist.
And, this isn’t simple. I used the word simple earlier, but that was just to keep you reading. There’s nothing simple about walking away from your right to control your outcome and leaving things in God’s hands. Even though we ultimately have very little control over the way things turn out in our life—we still naturally want to try. Worry often comes easier than faith.
